Stan Laundon

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Country Time

The programme "Country Time" was a huge part of my life during the 23 years I spent at BBC Radio Cleveland. Initially, the show ran for just 25 minutes and was first broadcast on New Year's Eve, December 31st, 1970. Six weeks later, due to popular demand, it was increased to 45 minutes, with a 'special' concert featuring recorded music by The Hillsiders from Liverpool.

Over the following years, the show was transmitted at various times - Fridays, with a repeat on Sundays for one hour, then on to 90-minutes and, for many years, running for two hours "live" every Sunday afternoon.

The very first edition of "Country Time" was broadcast at 7.05pm. The first record played was "Alabama, Louisiana or Maybe Tennessee" by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. There was recorded music from the Liverpool band, Western Union.

In February, 1973 American stars Faron Young and Connie Smith were featured on "Country Time" and was recorded in Glasgow, Scotland. This is Faron getting into his car with manager, Billy Deaton, back to the camera.

Connie Smith in Glasgow, Scotland. I believe that Connie has one of the greatest female voices in country music. Photograph by Fred Smurthwaite.

Vassar Clements and Joe "Red" Hayes who were part of Faron Young's Country Deputies on the 1973 UK Tour with Connie Smith.

Taken during rehearsals, this shows Richard Bass Barish, the lead guitarist, with Lloyd 'Skip' Jackson on pedal steel guitar. Thanks to Diane Diekman and Skip Jackson for providing background information on these photographs.

Faron Young's Country Deputies outside their Glasgow Hotel. Joe "Red" Hayes is on the extreme left, drummer Jerry Wayne "Cootie" Hunley is standing front centre, with Faron's manager, Billy Deaton, on the right. Joe "Red" Hayes, of course, was a co-writer of the song "A Satisfied Mind" which was a hit for Porter Wagoner among others. "Red" told me, at the time, that he saved copies of all versions of the song. I informed him that UK pop singer, Joe Brown, had also recorded it and I would send a copy to his home in the United States - which I did. A short time afterwards the record was returned to me with the word 'deceased' written on the package. Joe "Red" Hayes sadly died during this UK tour - on March 2nd, 1973, in Manchester. If you'd like to read more about Faron Young and his Country Deputies be sure to see "Live Fast, Love Hard" by Diane Diekman.

The Browns - Maxine, Bonnie and Jim Ed on stage at the Grand Ole Opry in Nashville, Tennessee in 1981.

American Singer and songwriter Rattlesnake Annie McGowan visits the UK in 1982 and plays a concert in Scarborough.

On the Texas state line June 15, 1983. On route to Gilley's nightclub in Pasadena, Texas, we stopped off in Beaumont were I celebrated my 40th birthday. We also took time to visit the birthplace of George Jones in Saratoga.

"The Johnny Lee Show" eighteen wheeler in the car park outside of Gilley's Club in Pasadena, Texas.

Ronny Robbins on stage at Gilley's, Pasadena, Texas June 1983.

Steve Strange who taught John Travolta to Ride The Bull at Gilley's for the movie "Urban Cowboy" also taught me! Steve played the part of Sam Strange in the movie.

On stage at Gilley's Night Club with the club's resident DJ Rusty Clark.

The Peterborough Festival of Country Music on August 28th, 1984 which had Barbara Fairchild topping the bill. It was a pleasure for me to be the compere on this part of the show.

I interviewed George Jones in a cupboard at the International Festival of Country Music at Wembley, London in 1986.

George Hamilton IV in England.

Raymond Fairchild - five times world champion banjo picker.

On the BBC again during Easter weekend 2011 - celebrating 40 years of local radio on Teesside.

April 2011 - "Country Time" returns for a one-off special to help celebrate 40 years of BBC local radio on Teesside.

 

The Stars

Some of the stars I had the privilege of meeting over that 21 year period:

Roy Acuff, Bill Anderson, Eddy Arnold, Chet Atkins, Lynn Anderson, Rusty Adams, Wendel Adkins, Moe Bandy, Bobby Bare, Jim Ed Brown, Ed Bruce, Max D. Barnes, Max T. Barnes, Boxcar Willie, Dewey Balfa, Pinto Bennett, Wes Buchanan, Carl & Pearl Butler, John Conlee, Johnny Cash, Tommy Cash, Rosanne Cash, June Carter, Mother Maybelle Carter, Helen Carter, Anita Carter, Jessi Colter, Vassar Clements, Bill Clifton, Roy Clark, Glen Campbell, Crowe Brothers, Linda Cassady, Little Jimmy Dickens, Roy Drusky, The Dillards, Dave and Sugar, Skeeter Davis, Dick Damron, Johnny Darrell, John Denver, Michael Doucet, Everly Brothers, Leon Everette, Dick Feller, Lester Flatt, Barbara Fairchild, Raymond Fairchild, Donna Fargo, Narvel Felts, Jack Greene, Don Gibson, Larry Gatlin, Josh Graves, Johnny Gimble, Chuck Glaser, Jim Glaser, Tompall Glaser, Jimmie Dale Gilmore, Lloyd Green, Crystal Gayle, Mickey Gilley, Freddie Hart, George Hamilton IV, Merle Haggard, Tom T. Hall, David Houston, Ferlin Husky, Emmylou Harris, Jan Howard, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Grandpa Jones, Jim and Jesse, Merle Kilgore, Kris Kristofferson, Loretta Lynn, Charlie Louvin, Jerry Lee Lewis, Albert Lee, Johnny Lee, Hank Locklin, Eddie LeJeune, Ronnie Milsap, Anne Murray, Bill Monroe, Melba Montgomery, Jody Miller, Charlie McCoy, Moody Brothers, D.L. Menard, Willie Nelson, Mike Nesmith, New Lost City Ramblers, Buck Owens, Oak Ridge Boys, Vernon Oxford, Dolly Parton, Charley Pride, Jimmy Payne, Johnny Paycheck, John Prine, Minnie Pearl, Carl Perkins, Jeanne Pruett, Ronnie Prophet, Jerry Reed, Marty Robbins, Ronny Robbins, Kimmie Rhodes, Jeannie C.Riley, Tex Ritter, Kenny Rogers, Del Reeves, John Riggs, Johnny Rodriguez, John Wesley Ryles, Rattlesnake Annie, Jean Shepard, Cal Smith, Statler Brothers, Connie Smith, Billie Jo Spears, Red Sovine, Joe Sun, Hank Snow, Joe Stampley, Gary Stewart, Nat Stuckey, Stanley Brothers, Earl Scruggs, Marc Savoy, Peggy Sue, Ernest Tubb, Carmol Taylor, Chip Taylor, Conway Twitty, Buck Trent, Rufus Thibodeaux, Hank Thompson, Townes Van Zandt, Hank Williams Jnr., Porter Wagoner, Steve Wariner, Don Williams, Dottie West, Kitty Wells, Marijohn Wilkin, Mac Wiseman, Tammy Wynette, Slim Whitman, Gene Watson, Charlie Walker, Billy Walker, Sonny Wright, Del Wood, Chubby Wise, Paul Yandell, Faron Young & Steve Young.

If I think of more in the meantime I will add them to the list – but this will do for starters! I am a very lucky person to have been in the position I was in and I will never, ever, forget it. I take my hat off to all those loyal fans and supporters of "Country Time" who stayed with me for 21 very happy years. "Country Time" was first broadcast on New Year's Eve, 1970 and ended in December, 1992. It was a very special part of my life and I will never forget those wonderful times I had with the stars and those loyal fans. I am truly grateful.

Personal problems within my family forced me to leave the BBC in 1994 after 23 years and take an earlier than planned retirement. After spending 13 years living in Spain I finally said goodbye to the Costa Blanca in November 2007 and moved back home to Hartlepool.

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Copyright © Stan Laundon

Country Time

 

A poser, a poser car and a poser registration plate - with my Lotus Europa in the 1970's. Photograph by Alison Moses.

A short history of "Country Time"

December 31, 1970

The very first edition of "Country Time" was broadcast at 7.05pm. The first record played was "Alabama, Louisiana or Maybe Tennessee" by Buck Owens and the Buckaroos. There was recorded music from the Liverpool band, Western Union.

February, 1971

Because of popular demand, the programme's air time is increased from 25 to 45 minutes and broadcasts a specially recorded programme with top Liverpool band, The Hillsiders.

The Hillsiders - Kenny Johnson, rhythm guitar and lead vocalist; Joe Butler vocalist and bass guitar; Ronnie Bennett, steel guitar; Brian 'Noddy' Redman, drums and Brian Hilton, vocals and lead guitar.

October 23, 1971

An article in the weekly BBC publication 'Radio Times' mentions that "Country Time" had a new time slot - being broadcast on Sundays at 5.15pm with a repeat the following Friday at 12.05pm.

June 17, 1972

"Country Time" is now 60 minutes - being transmitted on Sundays at 4.00pm.

February, 1973

American stars Faron Young and Connie Smith are featured on "Country Time" which was recorded in Glasgow, Scotland. Faron made a comment about the length of my hair - which wasn't broadcast - saying "I was a ******* disgrace to Country music!"

Connie Smith in Glasgow, Scotland 1973.

August 17, 1973

"Country Time" broadcasts a special "Silver Anniversary" tribute to Chet Atkins who celebrates 25 years as an ace picker and Nashville producer. One of about six shows I have saved in my archives!

April 1, 1974

BBC Radio Teesside changes its name to BBC Radio Cleveland. The local authority, Teesside, ceases to exist and Cleveland County is born and the radio station decides to change its name. The staff was asked to vote on this issue and, just for the record, I voted against it.

June 1974

I make my first ever visit to the United States travelling through New York, New Jersey, Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana and Pennsylvania. The trip saw me spending seven days in Nashville for "Fan Fair" when I met a host of country music stars including Bill Anderson, Loretta Lynn, Freddie Hart, Charlie McCoy, Dolly Parton and Porter Wagoner with the highlight for me being able to interview my own idol, Jerry Reed.

Jerry Reed outside his Music Row office in Nashville, Tennessee, June 1974. Photograph by Shay Brogan.

If you'd like to hear the radio station id (jingle) that Jerry recorded for my "Country Time" programme in 1974, then click on the music note.

Dolly Parton at the Municipal Auditorium in Nashville, Tennessee, June 1974 - photograph by Shay Brogan.

I get the chance to do a bit of singing in Nashville at a local Holiday Inn. Shay Brogan, on the left, joined me on bass guitar as we did a few songs with a local band. I do wish I could remember their name. Oh happy times!

March 1975

It was a great honour for me was to be one of seven deejays nominated as Disc Jockey of the year at the Billboard (UK) Country Music Awards held at the Empire Pool, Wembley, in London on March 29th and 30th. The winner was Wally Whyton of BBC Radio 2.

December 28, 1975

"Country Time" celebrates its 250th show. The programme linked up to Nashville and recorded a telephone interview with Jerry Reed. According to a country music magazine, this show broke all British records for the longest country music session in one day, programming six hours of non-stop country music! Do you know, I couldn't remember until read it in a newspaper article!

Easter 1976

Dolly Parton, Waylon Jennings and Wanda Jackson were just a few of the major stars appearing at the Eighth International Festival of Country Music at Wembley. "Country Time" was there and interviewed most of the stars.

December 12, 1976

"Country Time" celebrates its 300th show with a three-hour programme.

1979

Jim Glaser, Tammy Wynette and Chet Atkins visit the area to play concerts this year and "Country Time" recorded interviews.

August 1980

According to the American magazine "Close Up" BBC Radio Cleveland, in England, continues to gain high listening figures and Country DJ Stan Laundon had Nashville singer & songwriter Jimmy Payne as programme guest on his "Country Time" show on June 6th and 8th. BBC Radio Cleveland celebrates its 10th anniversary on New Year's Eve this year.

Cajun fiddle star Rufus Thibodeaux with Mary Reeves Davis, the wife of the late Jim Reeves, on the right. I have no idea who the lady is in the centre. This was backstage at the CMA Awards in Nashville.

October 1980

I get the chance to visit Nashville again for the Country Music Awards Show at the Grand Ole Opry on October, 13th. I taped interviews with Moe Bandy, Joe Stampley, Larry Gatlin and more. On this same visit to the United States I also had the opportunity to see Gene Watson in concert in a small town near Birmingham, Alabama.

Autumn 1980

Chet Atkins plays a concert at Middlesbrough Town Hall. I had the opportunity to meet Chet at his hotel before the show thanks to RCA representative, Tommy Loftus, who organised it for me.

June 1981

Country Music People magazine prints an annual review of current country radio programmes and shows that "Country Time" is broadcast on Sundays between 2.00pm and 3.30pm.

Irish country music star, Philomena Begley, backstage at Middlesbrough Town Hall.

June 1982

On another visit to the United States I enjoyed a holiday in the deep south visiting Panama City Beach, in Florida and the Okefenokee Swamp, in Georgia. I travelled all the way from the Gulf Coast to see Jerry Reed in concert in Douglasville, Georgia. Thanks to his manager, Frank Rogers, I got the opportunity to record a 45-minute special with him - although our conversation was interrupted by a telephone call from Burt Reynolds!

With Jerry Reed on his luxury coach in Georgia - photograph by Frank Rogers.

September 1982

On a visit to Nashville, Tennessee, I had the pleasure of meeting Carmol Taylor and Sonny Wright at Carmol's Music Row Office. He was celebrating a birthday and I was invited to attend.

With Carmol Taylor at his Music Row Office in Nashville. Photograph by Jay Diamond.

November 5, 1982

American singer/songwriter Rattlesnake Annie McGowan visits the UK and plays a concert in Scarborough. I was asked to compere the event and recorded an interview with her.

Easter 1983

"Country Time" visits the International Festival of Country Music, at Wembley, and records interviews with Jim & Jesse McReynolds, The Dillards, Ronnie Prophet and George Jones. Also at Wembley were Wendel Adkins, Roy Acuff and Johnny Lee.

June 1983

"Country Time" visits Gilley's Night Club, in Pasadena, Texas - the home of the Urban Cowboy where John Travolta made the movie. I also rode the bull at Gilley's and have the tee-shirt to prove it! I didn't get the chance to meet Mickey Gilley on this occasion, but I did chat to Wendel Adkins and saw Ronny Robbins in concert with Marty's original backing group.

September 1983

I get the opportunity to take my own tour to Nashville. A party of 30 fans fly out to Atlanta, Georgia for a 17-day guided tour that takes in Chattanooga, Nashville and Memphis. We stopped off for a week in Music City to enjoy the sights and the sounds, which included a visit to the Grand Ole Opry. A few people in our party were fortunate enough to talk, very briefly, to Merle Haggard as he left a local restaurant. He was willing to sign an autograph but, sadly, I did not have a tape recorder with me at this time. I did, however, record a large portion of my show in Nashville and during our visit to Memphis we called in at Graceland, the home of Elvis Presley.

October 1983

Waylon Jennings makes a visit to the UK and appears in concert at Hammersmith, in London. I took a party of fans on a two-day visit and had the pleasure to meet and talk to him backstage. I also met John Denver that night - he was standing in the wings watching the show. Some of us later went on to a night club to see Joe Sun and Solar System in concert.

August 28, 1984

I get the opportunity to be one of the comperes at the Peterborough Festival of Country Music when I introduced American country music star Barbara Fairchild on stage. Interviews were taped for "Country Time" and my section was also recorded by Anglia Television. The festival also starred Jimmy Payne, Kenny Johnson and Northwind and Ray Lynam and the Hillbillies.

August 1985

I get the opportunity to present the BBC's national country show "Country Club" on Radio 2. The show's regular host, Wally Whyton, was taking a well-earned break and I was one of three local radio presenters who was asked to present the show. It also gave me the chance to play some of my own favourites such as Jerry Reed, Steve Young and Hank Williams Jr.

December 24, 1988

"Country Time" celebrates its 1000th show with a three-hour special. Members of the Go Country Club, in Barnard Castle, County Durham, presented me with an engraved decanter to mark the occasion.

April 1989

"Country Time" visits North Carolina and records interview with the International Ambassador of Country Music, George Hamilton IV together with the Moody Brothers, Raymond Fairchild and the Crowe Brothers. A large portion of the show was recorded at the Opry House in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. Raymond Fairchild is one of the finest (and fastest) five-string banjo pickers I have ever seen or heard - he amazed me! He had just been voted World Champion Banjo Picker and has since had this honour bestowed on him four more times! The Crowe Brothers, I will never forget, sounded so much like Ira and Charlie, the Louvin Brothers. I will always love their song "The Winds Are Blowing In Maggie Valley."

September 1989

"Country Time" goes to Georgia and Louisiana. The first part of the show was recorded aboard "The Crescent" - a Amtrak train heading down to New Orleans from Atlanta. In Louisiana we recorded highlights from the Festivals Acadiens in Lafayette which included an interview with Rufus Thibodeaux.

Gerald P. Breaux, the Executive Director of the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission, later wrote: "I would like to congratulate you on the outstanding program that you produced on Lafayette. "It is quite obvious that you were able to capture the spirit and enthusiasm of our Festivals Acadiens".

September 1991

I made my farewell trip to Nashville, Tennessee and met up with some old friends - former disc jockey and later agent and promoter, Jay Diamond; songwriter John Riggs and singer/songwriter, Jimmy Payne. John Riggs and I enjoyed Sunday breakfast down by the Cumberland River and, later, I sat in the coffee lounge of the Holiday Inn Vanderbilt, on West End Avenue, and talked for more than an hour with Jimmy Payne. Little did I know that ten years later I would be running his official website!

November 1991

"Country Time" spends time in Mississippi and records parts of the show in Jackson with a visit to Tupelo, the birthplace of Elvis Presley.

December 29, 1992

The end of the road. I decide I have had enough of 'playing disc jockey' and quit the show after 21 years. My collection of 3,500 albums and country music memorabilia goes up for sale. Those wonderful people at the Go Country Club, in Barnard Castle, presented me with an engraved silver salver. The last record played on "Country Time" was "Leaving And Saying Goodbye" by Faron Young.

"Country Time" was first broadcast on New Year's Eve, 1970 and ended in December, 1992. It was a very special part of my life and I will never forget those wonderful times I had with the stars and those loyal fans. I am truly grateful.

February 1994

Personal problems within my family forced me to leave the BBC after 23 years and take an earlier than planned retirement.

November 2007

After spending almost 14 years living in Spain I finally said goodbye to the Costa Blanca and moved back home to Hartlepool.

April 2011

To help celebrate the 40th anniversary of BBC local radio on Teesside I was invited back to present a one-off two hour "Country Time" special on BBC Tees on Easter Friday, April 22nd, 2011.

 

When I am asked to share a few personal memories about "Country Time" how could I ever forget interviewing George Jones in a cupboard at Wembley, London in 1986 with the door open two inches or so – shedding just enough light on a tape recorder! Another time I was fortunate to interview the 'possum' was when, during a tour of the UK, Tammy Wynette took ill and Jones flew out to play several dates for her. Public Relations consultant Tony Byworth informed me about his visit and arranged a telephone interview with him.

Another fond memory I have is when a certain Nashville singer/songwriter was playing a show at my local club in Middlesbrough in the mid 1980's. Before the concert I suggested he came back to my house to record an interview for my show. It was a cold and snowy October, or November, and I recall him saying it was the "warmest he had been since coming to England" as my central heating blasted out. The man in question enjoyed a sandwich and coffee in my home and then went on to tell me about a song he had written for a certain person – but that person had returned the song saying: "It was just a little too short and needed another verse". So my visitor told me he wrote that extra verse, picked up my guitar and sang it for me: "God Bless the boys from Memphis, Blue Suede Shoes and Elvis…" That songwriter was the late Max D. Barnes and the song was "Who's Gonna Fill Their Shoes" which was a number one song for the great George Jones!

Meeting Ronnie Milsap when he was support act to Glen Campbell in Newcastle will always remain in my mind, too. I was suffering real bad with a cold at the time and explained to him that I could not conduct an interview. I did, however, ask if he'd enjoyed his trip to the North East of England. He told me that he was staying in a small seaside town called Seaburn and was not particularly happy with the treatment he'd received from the hotel management. When I asked why he told me they had charged him $30 extra for a room with a sea view. Think about it!

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